The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-10-14

NVoh you bcNtr WTlGo 10 b0y OF US,
l shall always remember you. For
you are my cousin, you know-just the
same to me as one Of my brothers"
Louis was about to utter some pro-
testation respecting this announcement
on Grace's part but a significant
touch on his shoulder from the hand
of Mr.. Marsden recalled that gentle.
mans stern prohibitions, and he con-
tented himself with kissing with fervor
the little hand that Grace frankly
placed within his own, unheeding the
fresh young face that was held up to
him for parting salute. -.
"How odd you are, Louis, not to kiss
me good-bye" she cried, gayly, as
she sprang into the carriage "remem-
Der, you must write your first letter
from Rome to me. And be sure you
tell me what you think about st. Peters
and the Colosseum. l wish / were go
ing with you to see them ALL"
"If you only were y muttered Louis,
as the carriage drove away. "There
goes my guardian angel, and l must
go forth alone to meet the demon"
A few weeks later Louis Seabrook
sailed from New York for Europe. He
did not fail to write to Grace more
than one impassioned love-letter short
ly after his arrival but the child, per-
picked, unsympathizing, and half pro-
voked with what she called ''Cousin
Louie's foolishness," made no response
TO his fervent protestations. Louis
took the hint, and the correspondence
thereafter was conducted on more
tranquil footing. To this change a
sharp reproof from Mr.. Marsden, and
threat of forbidding altogether any
interchange of letters, probably con-
tributed largely. The traveller wrote
but seldom, but he often sent tokens of
regard and remembrance TO his uncle's
family, and especially to Grace. One
OF these was a fine copy of the celebrat-
ed portrait of Caesar Borgia, by Ra-
phael, which is one of the noted art
treasures of the Borghese Palace. And
in the strangely beautiful face, with
the evil tendencies of the inner nature
looking from the large eyes and curv-
ing the full red lips, Mrs. Marsdeu
recognized with shudder strong re-
semblance to the countenance of her
nephew. Indeed. no alluded to the
likeness Of himself in one of the infre-
quent letters received from him during
his sojourn in Rome. II must be q
true descendant of the Borgias," he
wrote, "for my likeness to the Raphael
portrait has been commented upon
even by total strangers, and when
went to see my greatgrandfather, DR..
Marini, when l passed through Milan,
the other day, his FIRST exclamation on
beholding me was, 'You are like your
mothers race By-the-way, what a
wonderful old man he is have prom.
ised to pay him long visit on my way
back to Paris, and he tells me that be
will then confne to my keeping sundry
family relics of great importance.
confess that am very curious to see
him. He is nearly ninety years old
now, but preserves all his faculties un-
impaired .r...
A few months later Louis wrote that
the promised visit had been paid, and
that DR.. Marini had placed in his
hands some curious and antique objects,
several of which at one time belonged
to the famous family of Pope Alexan-
ander Borgia. "Amongst these" he
wrote, sis an ivory casket of exquisite
and artistic workmanship. 1t possess
certain singular properties which ]
shall describe when we meet" Next
came the news of the death of the old
doctor, who had seemed to have lived
thus long for the express purpose Of
bestowing his cherished heirlooms on
his great-grandson and sole direct de.
scendant. ...l
The two years that had been fixed as
the period of young Seabrook's absence
had nearly come to an end, and he had
already written to announce the date al
which he would sail for home, when he
recei> ed from Mrs. Marsden the news
of Grace's engagement to young anG
talented lawyer, Stuart Hastings by
name. The match was one that wal
satisfactory in every way to Mr.. ane
Mrs Marsden, and, to do them justice
they had both looked upon the attach
ment of Louis for his cousin as a mer,
bOyish passion that had not survived
the tests of time and absence. Thi
letter received no response, but Loui
wrote few hurried lines to Grace, de
claring his intention of being presen
at her marriage. Sand to prove tt
my pretty cousin that l bear her NJ
malice for the way that she has trihet
with my affections" he wrote 81 viii
bring her a wedding present such a
few brides in this nineteenth centur,
have ever seem"
But it was not till the day befor
that fixed for the ceremony that Loui
made his appearance at the house o
his aunt. He received a warm vel
come from Mrs. Msrsden, who had al
ways looked upon him as one of he
own children.
"You have grown tall and manly
Louis, she said, after the first greeting
were at an end, shut you look wild
haggard and feverish. Are you suffer
ing from malariai You must not fal
ill on the very day of your return
the eve of Grace's wedding day. You
playmate of bygone days would fee
sorely grieved if you were not to b.
present tomorrow"
"Ah, yes-where is Grace IL ha,
forgotten Grace !" the young man re
sponded, hurridly. 81 want to see he
IL have my wedding-gift ready TO
her, and want to present it to he
myself"
"Go into the library, then, and
will send her to you in moment. Sh
is just having her wedding dress trie
on for the last time, and I will tell be
not to take 1t off, for l want you t
see how charmingly she looks in it."
And with nod and smile, Mr.,
Marsden disappeared.
Some ten minutes later the door O
the library, where Louis was pacin
the floor impatiently, was slowly oper
ed, and the bride-elect, graceful an
charming in her vesture of snowy satiI
with a mien of grave, sweet maidenl
ness, advanced with outstretched hand
to meet the newly.returned wandere
4 II n